The University of Salamanca

The University of Salamanca

Hallowed tomes and dusty books. Maps and ideas. A wealth of knowledge precariously transferred from century to century via the written and spoken word. Stone walls and ghostly statues of those who walked these corridors time ago. Oxford? Cambridge? La Sorbonne? Try again. You’re in the University of Salamanca, Europe’s first official university.

History of the University of Salamanca

Along with Paris, Oxford and the University of Bologna, the University of Salamanca was said to be one of the “leading lights” of the world. In the context of the dark mid c. 13th, in a Spain battling against Arab rule, it’s easy to see how it was a ray of hope. Its golden sandstone walls, the beautiful Old Library and its intricate Plateresque façades make the University seem to glow from within.

The University of Salamanca today

After a drop in numbers at the end of the Spanish Golden Age in the c. 17th, the amount of students attending the University of Salamanca has steadily grown. Today, there’s more than 30,000.

A large amount of students at the University of Salamanca come from overseas. With the city of Salamanca one of the great originators and curators of the Spanish language, the Spanish spoken here is considered to be something like RP English. This, along with the city’s youthful, fun-loving nature, make it a top destination for foreign students wishing to learn the language.

Buildings of the University of Salamanca

– Coming into the University through the Patio de las Escuelas Mayores, you’ll see the main façade. Various patterns and motifs flourish over this elaborate Plateresque construction, including a medallion with the faces of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabel. A distinct, centuries-old type of graffiti sprawls across the walls – the names of students who’ve forever marked their names upon graduation.

– On this façade is the famous frog of the University of Salamanca. Various legends tell that spotting this University mascot among the complex designs will bring differing types of good fortune – from luck in love, to luck in exams!

– Another interesting building is the Casa de las Conchas (“House of Shells”), a house decorated with shell-like designs which is now a public library, but originally contained the University of Salamanca’s prison. What students would have to do to get locked up here, we’ll leave to your imagination.

Practical Information

– Universidad de Salamanca

Where: c/ Libreros. When: Monday to Saturday 10 am to 7 pm; Sundays and holidays 10 am to1 pm. The “Cielo de Salamanca” painting in the Old Library is open from 10 am to 2 pm and 4 pm to 7 pm from Tuesday to Saturday. How much: standard entry € 10; concessions € 5; under twelves and students of the University free entry. Access limited during academic events.